Oregon college trip report

<p>what dorm was this?
I didn't realize that they had any smoking in the buildings-
My daughters dorm for two year is no more- they are renaming Steele West - Sullivan after a former president- there is a movement afoot to name Steele east, Gilbert.</p>

<p>they are renaming Steele West - Sullivan after a former president- there is a movement afoot to name Steele east, Gilbert.>></p>

<p>LOL Emerald. :)</p>

<p>I do not want to point out any specific dorm, but in general to be in a nonsmoking dorm one has to request a "substance free" dorm, or so we were told.</p>

<p>My daughter chose Willamette for next fall- over Puget Sound and L&C- just a gut reaction. Spent a night there in dorms and felt very comfortable- even with the trains- and she is generally a light sleeper(!) Liked the kids she met- she narrowed it down to Willamette or Puget mostly because they seemed to have larger music programs compared to LC. She wants to study privately and play some but not major in music. So that was a factor. She did not spend an overnight in the dorm at Puget so maybe that would have swayed her- just didn't work out schedule wise. She sat in on 2 classes at both places and just liked Willamette's a little more. We also visited LC her junior year and did not go back for a closer look, although she did apply and was accepted. </p>

<p>I just think so much of it is a gut reaction and luck- depends on who you meet, who takes you on the tour, who hosts you, what classes you sit in on, etc. I am a little concerned about the Greek issue but I figure she will decide what is best for her- I would be surprised if she decided to join a sorority but again it is her choice. She described herself on her housing appl as liberal politically but more conservative in her personal lifestyle- so it will be interesting to see what kind of roomate she gets!</p>

<p>yucko idad
I know smoking is not permitted in any of the dorms-although it is permitted on balconies- which kind of defeats the purpose I imagine if they leave the door open. :p</p>

<p>Westfan,
My D loved Willamette as well over L and C and Puget. She loved the students and the academic atmoshere. She got her best scholarship offer from them but then to my disappointment decided the weather was a factor. She worried about the effect of lack of sun on her arizona system! Good luck to your D, great choice!</p>

<p>Westfan,
My D is also not the sorority type but she felt frats and sorrorities were different at Willamette. There is an exercise/ work out sorority where the girls run , bike , hike and go to the gym together and do community service. My gut reaction was a group of anorexics but she said that was not the case. She even felt the boys in the frat she met were gentlemen nothing like a typical Arizona frat where she would not set foot.</p>

<p>I just think so much of it is a gut reaction and luck>></p>

<p>Westfan, Boy is that true. Our tour guide at Willamette was a senior bio major who talked a lot about his dental school applications. That right there was a turn off for my art-loving-science-hating daughter. If we had hooked up with a tour guide who raved about the English and History departments, I think she might have felt differently about Willamette. But, truthfully, I think one of the main reasons she didn't like Willamette is because she knew I think it's such a great school -- she was prepared to not like it under and circumstances just because Mom did. :)</p>

<p>Carolyn: Given this effect, maybe you should tell her she absolutely cannot go to Whitman and you will not take her to vist ever....</p>

<p>Carolyn,
Your D seems to be fairly clear on what she is looking at in a college and Willamette is definitely not quirky. Both our D's have a "type " of school that they are attracted to(my D actually surprised me in what she was drawn towards). She will make a good choice and seriously even if you like her choice I don't think it will matter. I do think she will like Whitman .</p>

<p>I just returned from my college reunion at Reed. It was really interesting to see what happened to my classmates in recent decades. (About 25% from my class attended.) The quirkiest of them were still interesting characters but seem to have made really good careers, often changing their jobs over time; while most of those who took the "academic" path after graduation are senior professors now (and we are in some ways less interesting!).</p>

<p>The "old Reed" lives not only in the minds of these alumni but also from what I could observe of current students (those present during the summer). I was reminded of the original gift from Amanda and Simeon Reed, and the principles established at the founding of the college in 1908: no fraternities, no intercollegiate athletics, a focus on teaching and learning.</p>

<p>My daughter might actually like to be in a sorority that promotes exercise- as long as they don't get carried away! She likes to run and I am always telling her not to go out alone, so that would be a plus in my book. We are actually from arizona too- but my kid wants to get away from endless sunshine- she is looking forward to the green and the rain that makes it possible. Although sometimes I think she may get really tired of it by February. I guess if she ends up hating it she can always transfer. My philosphy is nothing is etched in stone-</p>

<p>Westfan, my daughter will be a senior at Linfield next year and she has a number of friends from her high school in Tacoma who attend Williamette and have had great experiences there. Linfield and Williamette are only about a 30 minute drive from each other and have a strong rivalry in sports so the students often drive to the other school for sports, especially football games which sometimes can be "standing room only." I hope your daughter learns to appreciate the rain as much as the seasoned Pacific Northwesterners do (and it's only a rumor that we grow webs between our toes!).</p>

<p>Carolyn:</p>

<p>You & your D might want to take a look at University of Puget Sound...it reminds me of Lawrence U. & Beloit C. in the Midwest, and Lewis & Clark C. in Portland.</p>

<p>BTW...Lewis & Clark have a portfo;io path to admissions that does not use SAT scores, don't know if that was mentioned. :)</p>

<p>Anyhow, just a quick note. Your tour descriptions were spot-on. Amazing, really.</p>

<p>Have a good day. :)</p>